Also, check out our Retiring Stamps and Accessories from our 2013-2014 Annual Catalog. These items will only be available through June 4th and they are while supplies last! So if you favorite ribbon sells out in 2 days, then you are out of luck.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Who loves Pinterest? I know. I know. We all do. It sucks us in, right? So many cute things we could make if we had all the time in the world with no life commitments.

I like to look at card designs. Making cards fits into my life. I find a design I like. Make it. Done in a matter of minutes. I feel like I accomplished something. That card, too, will be sent to someone to brighten their day AND I just saved myself $4 by not buying one in the store. Making one is far more economical.

I love it! Every male in my life will be getting a version of this camo card this year!

I saw the design. I made it. Done in a matter of minutes. Thank You Cheryl Holtman for copying your friend, Jan's, card, posting it on your blog and on Pinterest, so that I too could copy it. Happy we can all share!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Last night at my children's school there was a Father/Daughter dance. I have sons so my children were not going, but I wanted to go! So I joined the planning committee, because as a crafter, isn't that the dream - to plan events like this and make them pretty? My good friend, Heather, who is also a Stampin' Up! Demonstator, is super naturally talented and made the cutest tissue paper flowers that she hung. I am hoping to nab a picture of them for a later post.

As for me, I made lollipop flowers with Heather that we put into plant pots. Cute!

And Yummy Mini Cupcakes!

May brings the Monther/Son Kickball Game. Now that will be a blast with my kiddos!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

No it is not candy you eat, but it is still eye catching! "How did I get so much of this card candy?" you ask. I joined a swap! "What is a swap?" you ask. It is an organized group of people, who all make a certain amount of somethings, send it to one person who separates all the somethings out and mail back an assortments of somethings for you. Do you get it now? Well whether you did or did not, here is what I got!

I signed up, along with 12 other people, which meant that whatever I made, I had to make 13 of the same exact thing. It was card candy, so we were told to make 6 items that could be peeled off the backing and attached to any birthday card design. 13 sets of 6 items. Yes, that did take me a long time! I know, it is amazing that I can read your mind!

My package with my 13 sets of 6 items, all different on the return, came back to me on Saturday. Perfect! I had to make a birthday card for my sister-in-law! Now the decision was hard. Which card candy should I use first. I went though them all over and over until finally I chose.

Tada! Here is the card I made:

All I did was cut a base for the card, add a strip of early expresso brown and then I used some of the card candy pieces. Easiest card I have ever made!

My THANKS goes out to Tracey Roy, fellow Mainer and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, who actually MADE these Card Candy pieces. It was a pleasure using your work.

Monday, March 24, 2014

I always find it hard to design a handmade birthday card for a male, especially if I am not using a specific stamp, like a deer, a four wheeler, a campfire. Until I found this stamp set...Gorgeous Grunge.

I had a lot of practice making this card too, since my husband has 3 male siblings all with birthdays within 1 week in March. Aaron on the 10th. Toby and Matthew on the 17th. Oh but don't forget his sister also has her birthday on March 17th. (and no, there are no twins or triplets! Just happen to like that day to be born!) My brother's wife's birthday is also on March 16th and then their daughter just turned 1 on March 20th. Wow, what a busy week. Here is the highlight:

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Spring is here...at least that is what it says on the calendar. Here in Maine, if you look outside, you think differently. More snow coming on Wednesday too, so winter is still holding us hostage. Thank goodness my family likes to snowboard because we are still thankful for the snow! You have to find the positives in everything to make life joyful, right? So find a reason to enjoy all this snow!

Now onto something Spring-y! Flowers made from paper. Yes, from paper. A friend of mine, Pam, who is also in my Downline, made these beautiful flowers. One of her customers found some similar in the catalog and asked to make them at a party. As in true Demonstrator style, Pam said "Of course we can!" and then she went to work on how to make them. When we all got together for our Downline meeting earlier this month, Pam showed them to us. I am so impressed with how beautiful they are! Thanks for sharing them Pam!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

At our monthly downline meeting, Jean showed us all how to stamp with bleach. I had done this technique before, but was pleased to help teach others. It is amazing how the bleach removes the color from the paper and how beautiful it becomes! Whenever Jean teaches a technique, she always makes a card for us to have for our records. It describes the technique and we add the image above. Wonderful for future use!

And here is the card! Use a 2 step stamp set (meaning the inside image is stamped in bleach and the outline image is stamped in ink around it.) Beautiful!

Monday, March 10, 2014

I look forward to the 2nd Sunday of each month. It is a time to connect with other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators to share ideas, inspire each other and laugh as friends. We have a wonderful group, including Jeannine Tarrio, with all of her downline, myself and my downline and any members of our downline's downline. Sound confusing? It really isn't, just fun!

Thank you Jean for hosting our monthly get togethers. I look forward to the next one!

In the following days, I will share a few highlights from the day: Flowers made by Pam Parker and the bleach stamping technique, taught by Jean.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Are you're like me - you go onto Pinterest and hours later you realize hours went by? lol

It is well worth it! In my hours a few days ago, I found this technique, faux watercolor flower, posted by fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Patty Bennett. Patty is amazing - she is a top Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! and always has great ideas!

I followed her directions: I chose a piece of DSP from the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper pack. I stamped on it using a stamp from the Happy Watercolor stamp set and daffodil ink. I stamped the flower onto the DSP with basic black ink and cut out the flower. Voila! Beautiful!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

I have a very dear friend who is spending the day remembering one of her dear friends, Sandi. I did not know Sandi, but feel as if I do. She is mom, as am I, and that bounds us all together. My heart aches for her children, family and friends. If you feel led to give toward her families expenses, you may do so through www.youcaring.com. To Support Sandi's Family Click Here

My friend asked that I make 12 sympathy cards for her to send out in Sandi's memory. I wanted a simple design and found one that a fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Leonie Schroder, had on her blog. Simple, but elegant. Here are the cards as Leonie had made them:

So I started the making process. I used the words "May Your Memories Bring You Peace" from the Blessings from Heaven stamp set and the flower/stem from the Happy Watercolor stamp set. I stamped out all 12 of those at the same time. This saves on time, if you are making in bulk, to do things in steps.

I used another stamp from the Happy Watercolor stamp set to add color over the flowers/stems. I chose to use pool party and pink pirouette ink, to keep them subtle.

The 12 cards are finished and when my friend returns home from celebrating Sandi's life, she will have these to send out to those who loved her just as much. Let Sandi's loss of life remind us all that we only have a short time on this Earth. Cherish every moment.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

If you are like me, you collect punches. At my house, my children use them more than I do, so I like to have a lot of them on hand. For shapes, such as stars. For layering. For Framing. The cool thing about our Stampin' Up! punches, is that they lock closed for easy storage. I am an organizing, storage, everything has it's own place freak. And I am proud of it! I know there are others like me out there...

See! Pop open to use. Close up to store away.

Now I used to have the black, bulky punches. The best way I found to store them was to put them into a shoe storage unit that hung on my door. See -

It worked.

But now look at this! So neat and clean.

On the left top shelf I have my Big Shot embossing folders and thinlit dies.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A lot of uncreative people are really creative. They just need me to help them to realize their potential! Do you feel that way? Let me help you!One way I can do that is to bring some supplies to your house to stamp with you and a few friends! And right now, when you host a stamping workshop in your home you can also earn all kinds of free stuff! And who doesn't like free stuff?It is the best time of the year at Stampin' Up! - SALE-A-BRATION TIME!

After we stamp, you and your friends will need to order some products. Not because I need you to, but because you will HAVE to HAVE whatever we used! This will start you on your papercrafting adventure. Not only is it fun, but in the long run can save you money! I haven't purchased a single greeting card from a store in 6 years!

For a sale total of only $150, you will begin to earn FREE PRODUCTS! For as little as $300, you can earn $80 in free product throughout the SALE-A-BRATION period. That's a lot of cool, free stuff!

Also, any person, including all your guests, can earn free products too! For every $50 they spend, they qualify for 1 free product from our special SALE-A-BRATION catalog. (You can find the catalog link on the left side of my blog.)

So email me right away before all of the SALE-A-BRATION booking times are gone!

Can't host a party - have a catalog party!

Can't host a catalog party - you can still order! For every $50 you spend, you will still earn a free product from the SALE-A-BRATION catalog!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

A good friend of mine is due in 7 weeks with her first baby. Her baby shower was yesterday and we were asked to bring a book as our card. What a great way to start a child's library! I wanted to add a little touch to the inside, so I chose to make a small card, embossed with baby footprints and filled out to Mom and baby from me, that would be permanently attached to the inside flap of the book.

I love embossing and sometimes I assume everyone else knows how to do this fun technique too! However, my customers remind me often that I should never assume anything. So, here is a quick lesson on embossing, for those who have not tried it yet!

The tools you need are: Heating Tool (and no, a hair dryer will not work as it does not get hot enough to melt the powder), embossing powder, versa mark ink OR one of the new Stampin' Up! ink pads (must be the new pads), a stamp.

1. Take your stamp, ink it up and stamp onto your paper.

2. Sprinkle the embossing powder over the inked image, making sure to

completely cover it with the powder. Tap off the excess powder.

3. Heat the image with the heat tool. As it heats, you will see the powder melt.

The right foot has the powder completely heated and melted. The left foot is not completely melted yet. Can you see the difference in color between the right foot and left foot?

The melted powder becomes bright and shiny. Once cooled, you can feel it raised to the touch.

The finished card. I did write an additional personal message in the center before attaching it into the book. Conner is a lucky boy to be getting such a wonderful Mom!

Stay tuned for information on my upcoming Embossing Class. We will make 3 projects using this technique in various ways.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Our Maine Stampers Group, which is a group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who live in Maine, run by Debbie Henderson, had a challenge - to let this photo inspire us to make our own creation.

And here is my result:

I stamped the base flowers in raspberry ripple ink. The leaves are stamped in old olive ink and then colored in with a blender pen with old olive ink. The overlapping flowers are stamped in perfect plum ink, cut out and attached with stampin' dimensionals. This adds dimension to the front of the card.

Here you can see the dimension a little bit better. I also added rhinestones for bling!

To learn more about Debbie Henderson, visit her blog at http://debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com/

If you would like to know more about my card, comment here or email me!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Last But Not Least

The last shoe box swap project I have to show you was designed by Pat Greenleaf, a member of my downline team. It holds a K-Cup. How cute is this? Now I just need to find more of these cute little cups so I can make up a bunch. It think it is a great idea for Teacher Appreciation Week. A little something with a beautiful "Thank You" tag!

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About Me

I have been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for 8 years and I love to teach others to enjoy stamping as much as I do! You can visit my website at www.carriearsenault.stampinup.net to see when I will be holding workshops and classes in my home.
I also sell my card creations locally at Monkitree in Gardiner, Maine. Check out her website and if you are in town, stop in for a visit! https://www.monkitree.com/
I love life and thank God for every day he has given me. It is a JOY to be alive, to be blessed with my husband, children, family and wonderful friends. I hope you too are fully blessed.

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The content on this blog, Mainely Stamping by Carrie Arsenault, is my sole responsibility as an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and the use of and content of the classes, services and products offered are not endorsed by Stampin' Up!